**All rights go to James Cameron. His characters and storyline, my fanfic. Please do not reproduce plot without permission from MrsGatsby, 2013**

So a lot of people must either know me as the following: "Gracii Rose Dawson", "Blue Eyed Artist's Girl" or even the "Copier and horrible writer" hahaha wow, such bad reputations. I know I've been on hiatus for like, forever, but I should be back. I think.

April 10, 1902

The two figures walked briskly down the halls; one a woman with hair tied up in a messy bun, which was covered by her big brimmed hat which covered most of her face which was a ghastly pale. The person besides her was a child. A girl with fiery, red curly hair which could not be tamed to the slightest. Her hair threatened to break free from the rubber band that held it in place, and some stray curls fell into the girl's face, making her big green eyes stand out against her beautiful, full face. Both wore lovely dresses, which were now smeared with dirt and mud, but they didn't seem to notice. There was something wrong, the little girl knew it from the way her mother peered behind her shoulder every second, and as if she thought someone was following them. The way her mother's grip tightened around her daughter's tiny wrist as if someone would try and steal her away scared Rose, making her body tingle with fear as it coursed through her like a wildfire. She didn't understand why her mother was acting this way. Scared and angry.

"Mummy?" she asked, her voice trembling. Her heart wracked through her chest, making it hard to breathe as she struggled to keep up with her mother's fast pace. Ruth didn't bother to look down at her daughter as she continued to drag her through the building which was plain, big and overall, ominous. There was nothing but walls and hallways, and it smelled like lots and lots of dust, making Rose's nose tickle; she fought the urge to sneeze. It was quiet. Too quiet. There should've been noise but there wasn't. The silence chilled the seven year old girl to the bone, and she shivered involuntarily. The only noise was the soft breaths of the two women which reverberated all over the building.

"Shh, Little Duck," Ruth said, giving her daughter's arm a strong yank to make her be quiet. Her voice was panicked, and she herded Rose in front of her, frail hands pushing her along. Rose looked up anxiously at her mother who offered her a forced smile and a nod, telling her everything would be alright. Everything would be fine: that's what she had told Rose as soon as they took off from their home not even a couple hours ago as they dashed into the woods behind their house, running faster and faster, away from the horrors that awaited them back where they lived.

"Mummy, where are we going? Where's Father?" Ruth shuddered to herself as soon as the words left Rose's mouth, and she knelt down in front of her daughter so she was eye level with her. Her cold hands gripped Rose's shoulders tightly, making the little girl wince due to the pain. She had never seen her mother this frantic before, but today was different. Rose would've considered it another one of their games that they played in the trees, laughing, but no, it was not the same. There was no light in Ruth's eyes, only trepidation.

"Your father… won't be coming with us," Ruth replied simply, trying to put it into plain terms for her daughter to understand. Rose's eyebrows raised in confusion before she looked behind Ruth, perplexity lingering in her bright green eyes.

"But, he's right there." With a stubby finger, she pointed behind Ruth. A chill ran through the woman's spine as she squeezed her eyes shut, goosebumps running across her pale skin. Ruth let out a sound that was between a whimper and cry, and she spun her daughter around so her back was pressed against Ruth's stomach.

"Run child and don't turn around. Don't look back, Rose." She gave her daughter a gentle shove after tenderly kissing her scalp. It was a delicate motion that made Rose queasy, but she did as she was told, running faster and faster, little legs taking her as fast as they would. She felt Ruth behind her, her mother's breaths coming in short gasps as she screamed things out, curses and profanities and cries and pleas. How high her voice made Rose scared which only made her run faster, to where, she had no idea.

"Turn left, Rose!" she obeyed, diligently rounding the corner, her shoulder smacking into a picture frame when she slammed into the wall as she failed to turn fast enough. With a groan, Rose dropped to the ground like a rag doll, clutching her right shoulder with her left hand. Tears bubbled out from her eyes, obstructing her eyesight, and she let out a cry of pain as fire attacked her shoulder.

"Oh God," Ruth whispered as she dropped to her knees, drawing Rose into her arms, hands shaking as she pried Rose's tiny hand away from her shoulder. Glass was everywhere around the little girl, and Ruth suppressed a snivel when she felt some of it digging into her knees when she sat. "Let me see darling," she said calmly, eyes darting around the area, fear pulsing through her. Low moans and hisses came from what seemed like everywhere and Ruth stifled a cry by inhaling sharply, looking helplessly at Rose's shoulder which had pieces of broken glass embedded into her creamy skin. A trail of crimson went down Rose's arm, and she continued to sob into her mother's chest, clutching her mother's dress with her free arm, blubbering about the pain. "I know Little Duck, I know," Ruth whispered, sitting Rose up before kissing her hand. "It'll be okay." She cradled her frail child protectively against her before Rose's eyes flashed.

"He's here again."

Ruth's eyes flew open as she struggled to stand, helping her daughter up. "Come on Rose," she said, helping her daughter run. There was nowhere to go. Her daughter was crying, and Ruth felt helpless. Pale green eyes flashing, she caught sight of a door. She yanked it open to see it was a closet, and relief flooded over her as she ushered Rose into it. "Come on!" Rose obeyed and curled into a ball with Ruth not far behind her. Their hearts beat in unison, out of fear. Panic. Anxiousness. It was dark when Ruth shut the door, and they filed to the back of the closet, Ruth hovering above Rose protectively, kissing her softly before tucking a strand of her hair behind her daughter's ear. "We're safe Little Duck." Ruth let out a breath and closed her eyes momentarily, holding Rose tightly to her body. Rose inhaled sharply, causing Ruth to look down at her. "What's wrong?"

Her voice quaked, and Ruth's skin crawled, a chill running down her spine.

"He found us."